Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
  • B65D5/44—Integral, inserted or attached portions forming internal or external fittings
  • B65D5/48—Partitions
  • B65D5/48024—Partitions inserted
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
  • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
  • B65D5/56—Linings or internal coatings, e.g. pre-formed trays provided with a blow- or thermoformed layer
  • B65D5/60—Loose, or loosely attached, linings
  • B65D5/603—Flexible linings loosely glued to the wall of the container
  • B65D5/606—Bags or bag-like tubes loosely glued to the wall of a "tubular" container
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/13—Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
  • Y10T428/1303—Paper containing [e.g., paperboard, cardboard, fiberboard, etc.]

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to packages or cartons for holding and carrying articles, and more specifically, to a carton having multiple compartments for holding articles.
• one aspect of the disclosure is generally directed to a carton for holding a plurality of articles.
• the carton comprises a plurality of panels that at least partially form an interior of the carton.
• the plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels.
• the carton comprises a liner at least partially attached to an interior surface of the carton.
• the carton comprises at least two compartments that are separated by at least a portion of the liner,
• the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles.
• the blank comprises a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels.
• the blank further comprises a liner at least partially attached to an interior surface of the blank for at least partially forming at least two compartments that are separated by at least a portion of the liner when the blank is formed into the carton.
• the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carton from a blank.
• the method comprises obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels, and a liner at least partially attached to an interior surface of the blank.
• the method further comprises forming a divider that separates at least two compartments of the carton.
• the divider comprises at least a portion of the liner.
• FIG. 1 is an exterior plan view of a carton blank used to form a carton in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure.
• FIGs. 2-5 are perspective views showing stages of the assembly of the carton from the blank of Fig. 1.
• FIGs. 6A and 6B are perspective views showing the partially-assembled carton in a tubular form.
• Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the assembled carton in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure.
• FIG. 8 is an exterior plan view of a carton blank used to form a carton in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure.
• FIGs. 9-11 are perspective views showing stages of the assembly of the carton from the blank of Fig. 8.
• Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the partially-assembled carton in a tubular form.
• FIGs. 13A and 13B are perspective views of an end of the tubular form of Fig. 12.
• FIG. 14 is an exterior plan view of a carton blank used to form a carton in accordance with a third embodiment of the disclosure.
• Cartons or packages according to the present disclosure can accommodate articles of numerous different shapes.
• the following detailed description describes articles at least partially disposed within the carton embodiments.
• the terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper”, “top”, “front”, and “back” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected cartons.
• the articles held in the carton can be food products, but the articles could be other nonfood products without departing from the disclosure.
• Fig. 1 is a plan view of an exterior surface 1 of a carton blank 3 used to form a carton 5 (Fig.
• the carton 5 includes a liner 7 that is in contact with an interior surface 9 of the blank 3,
• the carton 5 can have multiple compartments (e.g., two) 1 1, 13 that can be used to hold articles (not shown) such as a plurality of food products (e.g., candy, crackers, popcorn, or any other food product) or nonfood products (grass seed, fertilizer, detergent, or any other nonfood product), or any other article or product.
• the articles held in each compartment 11, 13 can be complimentary products (e.g., peanut butter and chocolate candy, cheese and crackers, grass seed and fertilizer, etc.) that are marketed together in a single package but are kept in the separate compartments until removed by the consumer.
• the liner 7 maintains freshness and quality of the products and forms a divider 15 that separates the two compartments 11, 13.
• the carton 5 can include various dispensing features and various handle features without departing from the disclosure,
• the blank 3 has a longitudinal axis Ll extending generally in the direction of the length of the blank and a lateral axis L2 extending generally in the direction of the width of the blank.
• the blank 3 includes a front panel 23 foldably connected to a first side panel 25 at a lateral fold line 27.
• a second side panel 31 is foldably connected to the front panel 23 at a lateral fold line 33.
• a back panel 37 is foldably connected to second side panel 31 at a lateral fold line 39.
• An attachment flap 41 is foldably connected to the first side panel 25 at a lateral fold line 45.
• the front panel 23 includes two end flaps 49, 51 foldably connected to opposite ends of the front panel.
• the first side panel 25 has two end flaps 55, 57 foldably connected to opposite ends of the first side panel.
• the second side panel 31 has two end flaps 61, 63 foldably connected to opposite ends of the second side panel.
• the back panel 37 has two end flaps 65, 67 foldably connected to opposite ends of the back panel.
• the end flaps 49, 55, 61, 65 extend along a first marginal area of the blank 3, and are foldably connected at a first longitudinal fold line 71 that extends along the length of the blank.
• the end flaps 51, 57, 63, 67 extend along a second marginal area of the blank 3, and are foldably connected at a second longitudinal fold line 75 that extends along the length of the blank.
• the longitudinal fold lines 71, 75 may be, for example, substantially straight, or offset at one or more locations to account for blank thickness or for other factors.
• the end flaps 49, 55, 61, 65, 51, 57, 63, 67 can be alternatively shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or omitted without departing from the disclosure.
• the liner 7 overlays the interior surface 9 of the blank 3.
• the liner 7 can be composed of any suitable material which is relatively flexible and relatively fluid impervious.
• the liner 7 can comprise plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, poly vinyl chloride, or any other suitable material.
• the liner 7 could comprise a fluid pervious material without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
• An optional metallization layer can be deposited on the inner surface of the liner 7 to further increase the barrier properties of the liner 7.
• the metallization layer may be provided on a surface of the liner 7 by vapor deposition and can be an aluminum layer.
• the liner 7 could have a metallization layer on its outer surface without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
• the blank 3 can comprise any material which is relatively rigid such as paperboard, clay-coated paperboard, Kraft lined paperboard, double Kraft lined paperboard, or any other suitable material.
• the blank 3, carton 5, and liner 7 could have various properties and could be formed by various methods, processes, forming machines, and apparatus disclosed in the following U.S. patents which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes: 5,632,402; 5,632,404; 5,667,467; 5,746,871; 5,783,030; 5,794,811; 5,794,812; 5,857,614; 5,918,799; 6,332,488; 6,352,096; 6,386,438; 6,676,583; 6,796,930; 6,854,639; 6,889,892; 7,036,714; 7,210,612; and 7,241,254.
• the bank 3 can by formed into the carton 5 and loaded with articles by a suitable packaging system (not shown).
• the packaging system can comprise different stations, modules, or components, such as a carton forming station, a wrapping station, a pick and place station, a closing or sealing station, or other features and aspects for printing, cutting, scoring, bonding, gluing, etc. or any other suitable station or components.
• the carton 5 is formed from the blank 3, by first overlaying the interior surface 9 of the blank with the liner 7.
• the liner 7 can be selectively attached to the blank 3 by adhesive, such as glue, or other attachment methods such as heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, etc.
• adhesive such as glue, or other attachment methods such as heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, etc.
• the attachment flap 41 can be secured to the liner 7.
• the attachment flap 41 and a portion 76 of the liner 7 extending beyond the attachment flap are folded over the first side panel 25 and the front panel 23 at fold line 45.
• An edge margin 81 of the liner 7 is attached to a portion 82 of the liner covering the front panel 23 at an attachment region 85 (Fig, 1).
• the bottom panel 37 and the second side panel 31 are folded about fold line 33, generally in the direction of arrow Al (Figs. 2 and 3) to the position of Fig. 4, wherein the bottom panel and the second side panel are in face-to-face relationship with the folded-over attachment flap 41, the first side panel 25, and the front panel 23.
• the inner surface 9 of the back panel 37 can be secured to the exterior surface of the attachment flap 41 at an attachment region 87.
• the liner 7 can include an attachment region 89 (Fig, 1) on a portion 92 of the liner that overlays the back panel 37.
• the attachment region 89 indicates the attachment location of the portion 92 of the liner overlapping the back panel 37 and the portion 76 of the liner that extends beyond the attachment flap 41 (Fig.
• first side panel 25 and the second side panel 31 are positioned to extend between the spaced-apart front panel 23 and back panel 37 to form a generally tubular structure 91 (Figs. 6A and 6B).
• the first side panel 25 can be upwardly folded about fold line 27, generally in the direction of arrow A2 (Fig. 5) and the second side panel 31 can be upwardly folded about fold line 33, generally in the direction of arrow A3 (Fig. 5).
• the divider 15 extends between the front panel 23 and the back panel 37 to form the two compartments 11, 13 of the carton 5.
• the divider 15 comprises a single layer of the liner 7 that extends between the attachment region 89 on the back panel 37 and the attachment region 85 on the front panel 23.
• the divider 15 could be otherwise configured (e.g., to include one or more portions of the carton 5, to include multiple layers of the liner 7, etc.).
• the ends 68, 69 of the open carton 5 can be closed by respectively folding and at least partially overlapping the end flaps 49, 55, 61, 65, 51, 57, 63, 67 at the respective top and bottom ends.
• the carton 5 can be loaded with articles (e.g., food products, nonfood products, etc.) after one of the ends 68, 69 is closed.
• the other of the ends 68, 69 can be closed after the carton is loaded.
• the carton 5 can be loaded with articles by other by other methods.
• the carton 5 can include an opening feature such as a dispenser 93 (Figs. 1 and 7) with a tear pattern defining dispenser panels 94a, 94b in the end flaps 49, 65 and the side panels 25, 31.
• the tear pattern includes tear lines 95a and cut line 95b extending from the longitudinal fold line 71 in the side panels 25, 31, and tear lines 96 extending along portions of the fold line 71 where the end flaps 49, 65 are connected to the respective front panel 23 and back panel 37.
• the tear lines 96 terminate at fold lines 97 extending laterally in the end flaps 49, 65.
• the dispenser 93 can be opened after the carton 5 is formed by pushing the dispenser panels 94a, 94b inwardly to separate the dispenser panels from the respective side panels 25, 31 at the tear lines 95a, pulling the dispenser panels outwardly to separate the dispenser panels from the front and back panels 23, 37 at the tear lines 96, and folding the dispenser panels over the lateral fold lines 97.
• Each of the dispenser panels 94a, 94b can be opened individually so that the contents of the compartments 11, 13 can be accessed selectively. For example, a user can open dispenser panel 94a to access compartment 11 while leaving dispenser 94b closed.
• the carton 5 could include various handle features for carrying the carton and could include various alternative dispenser features for opening the carton. Further the carton 5 could include other panel/flap closing configurations without departing from the disclosure.
• Fig. 8 shows a second embodiment of a blank 203 that forms a carton 205 of the second embodiment.
• the blank 203 and carton 205 are similar to the blank 3 and carton 5 of the first embodiment. Accordingly, similar or identical features of the embodiments are provided with like or similar reference numbers.
• the blank 203 includes first and second bottom panels 37a, 37b that cooperate to form a bottom panel 238 of the carton.
• the blank 203 includes a first divider panel 208 foldably connected to the first bottom panel
• the attachment flap 41 is foldably connected to the first divider panel 208 at the fold line 45.
• the blank 203 includes a second divider panel 210 foldably connected to the second bottom panel 37b at a fold line 211.
• the second bottom panel 37b includes two wings 213, 215 adjacent respective ends of the fold line 21 1.
• the wings 213, 215 are separated from the second divider panel 210 by respective cuts 217, 219.
• the blank 203 can be assembled into the carton 205 in a similar manner as the first embodiment.
• the liner 7 can be attached to the interior surface 9 of the blank 203.
• the first bottom panel 37a, the first divider panel 208, and the attachment flap 41 are folded relative to the first side panel 25 at fold line 27.
• the attachment flap 41 and the first divider panel 208 can be attached to a portion 276 of the liner 7. As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the attachment flap 41 extends beyond the lateral edge 222 of the liner 7 and can be attached to a portion 282 of the liner that is in contact with the front panel 23 at an attachment region 287.
• the second bottom panel 37b and the second side panel 31 are upwardly folded at the fold line 33.
• the second divider panel 210 is downwardly folded at fold line 211.
• the liner 7 extends laterally beyond the edge of the second divider flap 210 and has an attachment region 289.
• the liner 7 and attachment region 289 are further positioned so that the attachment region is connected to the portion 282 of the liner in contact with the front panel 23.
• the second divider panel 210 is brought into face-to-face contact with the first divider panel 208 by positioning in the direction of arrow A4.
• the divider panels 208, 210 can be secured together at an attachment region 288.
• the wings 213, 215 of the second bottom panel 37b overlap and are secured to the exterior surface of the first bottom panel 37a.
• the fold line 21 1 is generally adjacent to the fold line 209 and the first bottom panel 37a and second bottom panel 37b are secured together to form the bottom panel 238 of the carton 205.
• the two compartments 11, 13 are separated by the divider 15 that comprises the first divider panel 208 and the second divider panel 210 in generally face-to-face contact.
• the divider 15 comprises a portion of the liner 7 that is in contact with the first divider panel 208 and a portion of the liner that is in contact with the second divider panel 210.
• Each of the compartments 11, 13 are surrounded on all sides by the interior surface of the liner 7 (e.g., a surface that includes a metallization layer) to preserve freshness of the products held therein.
• Fig. 14 shows a third embodiment of a blank 303 for forming a carton (not shown) of the second embodiment.
• the blank 203 and carton formed thereby are similar to the blank 203 and carton 205 of the second embodiment. Accordingly, similar or identical features of the embodiments are provided with like or similar reference numbers.
• the blank 303 includes the liner attachment flap 45 foldably connected to the second divider panel 210 at the fold line 45.
• the blank 303 is assembled into a carton in a similar manner as described above for the second embodiment.
• the blanks according to the present disclosure can be, for example, formed from coated paperboard and similar materials.
• the interior and/or exterior sides of the blanks can be coated with a clay coating.
• the clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, price coding, and other information or images.
• the blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed on the blank.
• the blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blank.
• the blanks may be constructed of paperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper.
• the blanks can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described herein.
• the blanks can also be laminated or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
• a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features.
• a score line such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness
• a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features.
• a tear line can include: a slit that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart slits that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features.
• one type tear line is in the form of a series of spaced apart slits that extend completely through the material, with adjacent slits being spaced apart slightly so that a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material) is defined between the adjacent slits for typically temporarily connecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line.
• the nicks typically are a relatively small percentage of the tear line, and alternatively the nicks can be omitted from or torn in a tear line such that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for each of the tear lines to be replaced with a continuous slit, or the like.
• a cut line can be a continuous slit or could be wider than a slit without departing from the present disclosure.
• the above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carton embodiments.
• glue is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton panels in place.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Cartons (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Cites Families (101)

• 2010
  • 2010-05-07 EP EP10772876A patent/EP2427383A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-05-07 WO PCT/US2010/034015 patent/WO2010129855A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-05-07 US US12/775,758 patent/US20100282828A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-05-07 MX MX2011011786A patent/MX2011011786A/es not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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